Material Composition | Underground power distribution | Aluminum sheath + copper conductors (IEC 60228) ▲ Advanced: Aluminum + polymer composite (ASTM B209) | Lightweight (30% lighter than copper sheath) ▲ Enhanced corrosion resistance (10+ years lifespan) | Aluminum has higher resistance (requires thicker conductors for same capacity) |
Insulation Type | Industrial plants, substations | Base: PVC (70°C max, IEC 60502-1) Advanced: XLPE (90°C max, IEC 62067) ▲ | Cost-effective for standard temps ▲ Higher thermal resistance for heavy loads | XLPE requires specialized installation tools (20% higher cost) |
Jacket Material | Harsh outdoor/underground environments | Base: Flame-retardant PVC (UL 94 V-2) Advanced: UV-resistant XLPE (IEC 60502-4) ▲ | Standard fire safety ▲ Resists UV degradation (50% longer lifespan outdoors) | XLPE jackets are less flexible in cold climates (-20°C brittleness risk) |
Core Configuration | High-current applications (e.g., factories) | 5 stranded copper cores (90 strands/IEC 60228) | Flexible routing (bends to 8x diameter) ▲ High current capacity (5x185mm² = 925mm² total) | Stranded cores increase bulk (20% larger diameter vs solid cores) |
Voltage Rating | Commercial buildings, substations | 1kV rated (IEC 60502-1) | Safe for 0.6/1kV systems (widely adopted standard) ▲ Handles 130% overload for 1hr (IEC 60853) | Higher voltage requires thicker insulation (adds 15% to cable weight) |
Mechanical Strength | Trench-laid cables in rocky terrain | Base: Dual-layer construction (ASTM D2464) Advanced: Steel-armored triple-layer (IEC 60245) ▲ | Resists rodent damage (tested per IEC 60811) ▲ Withstands 10kN/m bending force | Armored cables require heavy machinery for installation (30% slower deployment) |